Earth plowing tip for fertilizing implements



Dec. 27, 1966 B. K. BINDER 3,294,181

EARTH PLOWING TIP FOR FERTILIZING IMPLEMENTS 'Filed May 13, 1964 INVENTOR.

36 BY JR gem x BrgceKBinder United States Patent Ofifice 3,294,181 Patented Dec. 27, 1966 3,294,181 EARTH PLOWING TIP FOR FERTILIZING IMPLEMENTS Bryce K. Binder, P.0. Box 275A, Madras, Oreg. 97741 Filed May 13, 1964, Ser. No. 367,069 3 Claims. (Cl. 172-708) This invention relates to earth fertilizing implements, and more particularly to a novel earth plowing tip therefor.

The introduction into the earth of fluid fertilizing materials is accomplished by feeding the liquid through a nozzle stationed immediately behind an earth plowing tip which is supported on a spring rod and travels through the earth a few inches below ground level to open up the soil. The abrasive character of the soil acts on the plowing tip to erode away the substance thereof. Accordingly, the plowing tip is expendable; its service life depending in part upon the character of the soil and in part upon the construction of the plowing tip.

Plowing tips provided heretofore have been unsatisfactory both from the standpoint of relatively high manufacturing cost and short service life. In general, these prior plowing tips have been produced by shaping from a rod of steel on a lathe. This procedure results in excessive waste of raw material. The configuration of these prior plowing tips, being generally conical in shape, results in excessive erosion thereof and consequent short service life. Moreover, thi erosion exposes the tip support rod to the abrasive action of the soil and results in irreparable damage to the support rod, requiring its replacement as well as the plowing tip.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide an earth plowing tip for fertilizing implements, which tip is characterized by substantially greater service life and less cost of manufacture than plowing tips provided heretofore.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of an earth plowing tip of the class described which functions additionally to protect the supporting rod against abrasion by the soil.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a portion of a fertilizing implement having mounted thereon an earth plowing tip embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary View in side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the plowing tip end of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 1, a portion thereof being broken away to disclose details of internal construction;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation as viewed from the right in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of earth plowing tip embodying the features of this invention.

Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a support bar adapted to be mounted upon the rear end of a tractor (not shown) and to extend transversely thereof in a substantially horizontal plane. This bar supports, at longtiudnally spaced intervals, a plurality of elongated spring rods 12 which project rearwardly and arcuately downward therefrom. The terminal end of each rod supports a tip mounting sleeve 14. A fluid fertilizer feed tube 16 is mounted on the rearward side of each spring rod 12, as by means of the mounting rings 18, and the feed nozzle end of the tube terminates rearwardly of and in close proximity to the tip mounting sleeve 14. A flexible hose 20 is connected to the opposite end of the feed tube and extends to the supply of fluid fertilizer carried on the tractor, or implement drawn by the tractor. gaseous or liquid, as desired.

The foregoing structural assembly is Well known in the art, and hence forms no part of the present invention.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 2 of the drawing, there is illustrated therein one form of earth plowing tip embodying the features of the present invention. This tip includes a head section 22 and a shank section 24 which extends rearwardly from the rear end of the head section. In the preferred construction illustrated, the head section is formed separately from the shank section, preferably by the well known technique of metal casting. The shank section may simply be a length of mild steel. A central bore 26 extends forwardly from the rear end of the head section, and this bore is adapted to receive tightly therein, as by means of a press fit, the forward end of the shank section 24. The shank section is receivable freely through the central bore of the mounting sleeve 14 and projects rearwardly therefrom.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the rearward end of the shank section 24 is threaded for reception of the securing nut 38. This nut is tightened against the end of the mounting sleeve 14 opposite the end facing the head section 22, to releasably secure the plowing tip to the mounting sleeve. A washer 30' preferably is interposed between the sleeve and nut.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 an annular groove 32 is formed in the shank section 24 a distance rearwardly from the head section equal to the length of the mounting sleeve 14. This annular groove is adapted to releasably receive a resilient O-ring 34 which abuts the rearward end of the mounting sleeve to secure the plowing tip to said sleeve. This form of securing means is adequate since operating pressure on the head section is in the rearward direction. This form of securing means provides the additional advantage of quick attachment and detachment of the plowing tip.

Although. the foregoing separate construction of the head and shank sections is preferred, for the elimination of waste material and other economies of construction, it will be understood that the head and shank sections may be provided as a single integral piece, either cast or lathe-formed.

Of particular importance in this invention is the configuration of the head section 22. The rearward portion 36, constituting at least about 15% of the total length of the head portion, must be of substantially uniform diameter. Moreover, this uniform diameter must be at least as great as, and preferably larger than, the outer diameter of the mounting sleeve 14. The remaining forward portion 38 of the head section, which constitutes at least about 50% of the total length of the head section tapers forwardly substantially to a point. This taper may be arcuate, as in the embodiment of FIG. 2, or it may be uniformly conical as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4.

It is by virtue of the uniform diameter of the rearward portion 36 of the head section that the plowing tip of the present invention exceeds by more than three times the service life of prior plowing tips which do not provide this rearward portion of uniform diameter. For example, in a comparison test between a prior plowing tip whose head was substantially the same length as the head of the present invention but which tapered uniformly throughout vsaid length, the prior tip was ground away to the point of destruction and substantial erosion of the mounting sleeve, after 60 miles of earth plowing. In contrast, the plowing tip of the present invention was still usable, with its rearward diameter unchanged and still protecting the mounting sleeve, after 207 miles of earth plowing.

Although the reason for the extended service life of The fertilizer may be the plowing tip of the present invention is not completely understood, it appears that the rearward portion of uniform diameter is subjected to much less abrasion, perhaps because its surface is substantially parallel to the di- :rection of travel through the earth and thus is subjected to minimum pressure. In any event, it has been established that the provision of this rearward portion of uniform diameter extends many fold the service life of the tip in comparison with tips in which this rearward portion is not provided.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the size, shape and structural details of the plowing tip embodiments described hereinbefore, without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the appended claims.

'Having now described my invention and the manner in which it may be used, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. For use in a fertilizing implement wherein a projecting support rod is provided with a hollow plowing tip mounting sleeve of predetermined outer diameter; a plowing tip comprising a head section, a shank section of reduced diameter extending rearwardly from a head section for support in said mounting sleeve and arranged to mount the head section coaxial with the sleeve, the head section having a rearward portion of substantially uniform diameter and a forward portion which tapers from the rear-ward portion forwardly substantially to a point, the rearward portion constituting at least about 15% of the total length of the head section, and the rearward portion of the head section having a diameter at least equal to the outer diameter of the mounting sleeve.

2. The plowing tip of claim 1 wherein the head has a central opening in its rearward end and the elongated rearwardly extending shank is secured firmly in said opening.

3. For use in a fertilizing implement wherein a projecting support rod is provided with a hollow plowing tip mounting sleeve of predetermined cross sectional shape and dimension: a plowing tip compising a head section, a shank section of reduced cross sectional dimension extending rearwardly from the head section for support in said mounting sleeve and arranged to mount the head section coaxial with the sleeve, the head section having a rearward portion of substantially uniform cross sectional shape matching the shape of the sleeve and a forward portion which tapers from the rearward portion forwardly substantially to a point, the rearward portion constituting at least about 15 of the total length of the head section, and the rearward portion of the head section having a cross sectional dimension at least equal to the cross sectional dimension of the mounting sleeve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,595,112 8/1926 Mentzer 172-699 X 2,847,921 8/ 1958 Heckathorn 172699 2,988,026 6/ 1961 Heckathorn 1ll-7 3,174,446 3/ 1965 Clarke et al. 1l17 3,202,222 8/1965 Norris 172-699 X FOREIGN PATENTS 37,652 7/ 1927 Denmark. 543,733 3/ 1942 Great Britain.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM A. SMITH III, Examiner. 

3. FOR USE IN A FERTILIZING IMPLEMENT WHEREIN A PROJECTING SUPPORT ROD IS PROVIDED WITH A HOLLOW PLOWING TIP MOUNTING SLEEVE OF PREDETERMINED CROSS SECTIONAL SHAPE AND DIMENSION: A PLOWING TIP COMPRISING A HEAD SECTION, A SHANK SECTION OF REDUCED CROSS SECTIONAL DIMENSION EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM THE HEAD SECTION FOR SUPPORT IN SAID MOUNTING SLEEVE AND ARRANGED TO AMOUNT THE HEAD SECTION COAXIAL WITH THE SLEEVE, THE HEAD SECTION HAVING A REARWARD PORTION OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM CROSS SECTIONAL SHAPE MATCHING THE SHAPE OF THE SLEEVE AND A FORWARD PORTION WHICH TAPERS FROM THE REARWARD PORTION FORWARD SUBSTANTAILLY TO A POINT, THE REARWARD PORTION CONSTITUTING AT LEAST ABOUT 15% OF THE TOTAL LENGTH OF THE HEAD SECTION, AND THE REARWARD PORTION OF THE HEAD SECTION HAVING A CROSS SECTIONAL DIMENSION AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE CROSS SECTIONAL DIMENSION OF THE MOUNTING SLEEVE. 